Saturday, July 19, 2008

Just like Chinese water torture, but dry

A couple of weeks ago we lost our power for a few hours during a thunderstorm. When the power went out, the smoke detectors reverted to their batteries (or bat-trees as my grandmom would say). During those few hours, I kept hearing the one in the bedroom chirp and chirp and chirp. All was well when the power went back on, but I thought to myself, "Gee, that'll suck when the batteries go low, because it'll chirp."

So, I go out to the store today and when I came back: "Chirp....chirp....chirp....chirp..." Could this have happened before I went out? I could have bought batteries and a step stool. Yeah, I forgot to mention that the ceilings are kind of high and there is nothing for me to safely step up on to change the batteries. Peachy.

Well, at least I won't be alone tonight, I'll be visited by the smoke detector's chirp every freakin' few mintues. Guess I'll have to go to the store again tomorrow.

I'd get my cousin to do this, but he's about five inches shorter than me. I'd stand on a chair, but they have bar stool type chairs (not safe). I don't even know what kind of batteries to buy, either.

A little annoyance, but a sucky one. I could call the fire department down the street....hmmm...

Never a man around when you need one. Geesh.

5 comments:

USA_Admiral said...

I never thought of it but you are right.


There are never any tall dudes around when you really need one.

Old NFO said...

LOL- ALWAYS change important batteries everytime we go from standard to daylight savings... :-) I'm amazed at the number of people who think batteries last forever if they are not used!

Sezme said...

Admiral
I could really use one. I haven't stood on a step stool type thing in four years. Since I'm getting better at going up steps without railings, I should be o.k.

Tall dudes are hard to come by around these parts.

I'm 5'10 and can't reach the thing.

NFO
The one I have at home gets changed when the times spring forward and fall back (like you said).

It couldn't do this for the guy that rented the condo the week before me? Huh? I bet he was tall. Sure, he left me wine, string cheese, and Fresca, but he couldn't have had the pleasure of the chirp? Grrrr.

Anonymous said...

The smoke alarms use 9 volts.Ass a general rule.

Sezme said...

Thank you Fuzzy. I bought the 9v and a nicely sized step stool, and just about reached the thing.